Letters to the editor

Friday, October 12, 2012 - 12:01 am

Schools need to value integrity over victory

What a sad but compelling argument for Indiana's recently enacted educational voucher program!

Last year Bishop Luers High School discovered that an ineligible player was allowed to play in the final minute of a lopsided victory. Once this was determined, this private school did the right thing and vacated the victory. This year Leo High School was granted an ineligible play on the last second of a game that had ended in a loss. The ineligible play enabled them to tie the score and win the game in overtime. Even though the penalty and subsequent snap called violated first the spirit and then the letter of the law and this has been brought to the attention of their head coach, athletic director, principal, dean of principals and superintendent, none has yet chosen to do the right thing and vacate the victory.

With public school employees and administrators like this, it is time for all the moaning and complaining done by school officials and school boards about Indiana's new voucher program to stop. Leo High School and the East Allen County School System clearly and sadly demonstrate why parents ought to have the option of sending their children to a school run by people who value integrity over victory.

John Chowning

"Miracle ounce' law makes no sense

Last year, Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage, introduced a bill that would have decriminalized the possession of 3 ounces of marijuana. Sen. Brent Steele, R-Bedford, intends to sponsor a bill next session making possession of 10 grams or less an infraction.

Let's roughly round that out to 1 ounce. Where did that ounce come from? None of the laws will be changed concerning the growing, transport or sale of it. As one activist described it many years ago, it's the “miracle ounce.” It's OK to have it, but illegal to get it. Makes no sense to me.

What makes even less sense is why it is illegal in the first place. After all, it's just another plant that grows on this planet.

There has got to be a better way to deal with any perceived societal drug problems than by government force.

Dan Headlee

October good time to stop eating meat

2012 has not been a banner year for the meat industry.

Extreme drought has doubled the cost of animal foodstuffs. Undercover investigations documented male chicks suffocated in plastic garbage bags or ground to death, their female counterparts crammed for life in tiny wire-mesh cages, pigs clobbered with metal pipes, and assorted farm animals skinned and dismembered at the slaughterhouse while still conscious.

A study of more than 120,000 people by the Harvard School of Public Health confirmed once again that meat consumption raises the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Director General of the World Health Organization Margaret Chan warned that routine use of antibiotics to promote animal growth in factory farms is causing “the end of modern medicine.”

No wonder U.S. per capita meat consumption has been dropping by nearly 4 percent annually.

October offers excellent opportunities for dropping animal products from our diet. The month kicked off with World Vegetarian Day and World Farm Animals Day on Oct. 1 and 2, respectively. It continues with World Food Day on Oct. 16 and Food Day on Oct. 24.

Tucker for council

I fully recommend that the voters of Allen County give one of their three votes in the County Council at-large positions to Sharon Tucker. Sharon is fully qualified to be a more than just effective Allen County councilwoman because of her business experience and her second-to-none people skills in which her very outgoing personality and truly caring about the citizens of Allen County will serve the voters greatly on the County Council.

She will be able to help “bridge the gap” to put politics aside to make sure that true value for the dollar will happen for all Allen County tax dollars to help avoid wastefulness in spending.

If you wish to have value for your vote in the upcoming election, then be sure to cast one of your votes for Tucker in the Allen County Council at-large election. You will not have voter's remorse.

George Womack, Jr.

Decatur

Our standards end at our own borders

When a small group (mostly Saudi Arabians) attacked us on Sept. 11, 2001, we held the country that hosted them responsible and attacked Afghanistan. When a small group of Americans made an offensive film attacking Mohammad (the prophet of over 1.3 billion Muslims) we are amazed that they hold our entire country responsible.

Americans don't seem to understand that our standards of free speech and governance end at our borders. If we want peace in this world we must respect other cultures and religions.

Tim Tiernon

Fort Wayne for Peace

Health care law already taking effect

Beginning the first of October, a portion of the health care law (went) into effect.

Hospitals can be fined for readmitting Medicare patients due to complications.